Practice drum set



July 7, 1959 F. J. IPPOLITO PRACTICE DRUM SET Filed Au so. 1956 2 SheetsSheet l INVENTOR.

July 7, 1959 F. J. IPPOLITO PRACTICE DRUM SET 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. so, 1956 x i I 1 z k Elli-" ar 12,5; Y INVENTOR.

W675 E Z firm/7a,

United States Patent PRACTICE DRUM SET Francis J. Ippolito, Forest Hills, N.Y.

Application August 30, 1956, Serial No. 607,163

7 Claims. (Cl. 84-411) The present invention relates generally to a practice drum set, and in particular to a simulated drum outfit in which the several component parts are muted to enable the drummer to practice without the noise incident to the normal use of a drum outfit.

One of the most difficult problems confronting a drummer, whether a beginner, amateur or professional, is that of being able to practice. Be it the time of day or night, or the complaints of persons in immediate proximity, practice time is seriously curtailed. As a practical consequence, most professional drummers find it necessary to practice in sound-proof studios with attendant inconvenience and expense.

There exists the need for a practice device which will enable the drummer to practice the many intricate drum arrangements, with complete facility to practice the entire gamut of drumming sequences which occur in drum accompaniments and musical arrangements having drum solos. To this end, attempts have been made to provide a drum practice arrangement. However, for one reason or another, the known devices have in no Way gained acceptance as practice aids. In good measure, the failure of these known devices to be useful may be attributed to the fact that they do not functionally and visually simulate a drum set. It is not sufiicient for the drummer to practice on a pad or a group of pads, for all that this will do is enable the drummer to exercise his hands, without regard for the required complicated manipulations incident to playing drum pieces. In fact, use of available practice aids is often detrimental, for such aids frequently destroy much of the sense of feel, coordination and technique which a drummer acquires when working with a drum set.

It is broadly an object of the present invention to provide an improved muted or noiseless practice drum set obviating one or more of the aforesaid difficulties. Specifically, it is within the contemplation of the present invention to provide a practice drum set which is virtually silent, yet functionally and visually is the equivalent of a conventional drum set thereby enabling the drummer to practice just as if practicing on a full set of drums.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a muted practice drum set which gives off audible and discernible sounds at a very low noise level, enabling the drummer to obtain the feel or rhythm of any arrangement and to attain the full benefit of a practice session.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a practice drum outfit which is portable, collapsible and incorporates a number of standard components of a drum set whereby the outfit may be available for practice wherever the drummer goes and may be set up in very short order with the employment of components already owned by the drummer.

In accordance with an illustrative embodiment demonstrating features of the present invention, a drum set is provided suitable for practice by professional and amateur drummers which is constructed and arranged so as to completely simulate the function of a professional drum set, except for muting of sound. An illustrative drum set includes at least a simulated bass drum, a simulated snare drum, and a cymbal. The simulated bass drum includes an annular rim upon which are mounted one or more simulated tom-toms, and if desired, a cymbal. The simulated bass drum is constructed so that a base drum or foot pedal may be mounted thereon in prescribed orientation relative to a muted practice pad which has a front or leading face lying in the plane normally occupied by the drum head of a bass drum. The simulated snare drum or drums, which in one form may be made the practice equivalent of tom-toms, incorporate a rim which receives a stretched skin backed by. a sound muting pad. This drum provides the drummer with all the facility for practice, both with drum sticks and brushes and is the complete equivalent, except for noise, of its drum counterpart. The cymbal of the set may take the form of a single cymbal element or pair of cymbal elements which together make up what is known in the trade as a high-hat cymbal.

In accordance with a further feature of the present invention, a cymbal or a pair of cymbals are muted to obtain a slight sound, with little or no overtones or ringing, by the attachment of marginal or peripheral clamping rims or rings of elastomer material. With the single cymbal, the drummer hits the rim with a drum stick or the body of the element with a brush, yet little or no sound is given off. With a high-hat pair or set, the respective marginal muting rims rings preclude direct contact between the cymbal elements thereby enabling the drummer to get the required rhythm without the attendant noise.

The above brief description, as well as further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be best appreciated by reference to the following detailed description of a presently preferred but illustrative drum set, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a drum set embodying features of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of a simulated bass drum which is part of the set illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is the sectional view taken through a longi tudinal center plane of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an elevational view taken substantially along the line 4-4 of Fig. 3 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view, with parts broken away, taken substantially along the line 55 of Fig. 3 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 66 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 is a plan view of a simulated tom-tom or snare drum embodying further features of the present inven= tion and included in the drum set of Fig. 1;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken substantially along the line 88 of Fig. 7; and

Fig. 9 is an elevational view of the cymbal elements of a high-hat pair, with parts sectioned as indicated by the line 99 in Fig. 1.

Referring now specifically to the drawings, there is shown in Fig. 1 a practice drum set according to the present invention, generally designated by the reference numeral 10. The drum set, in this illustrative embodiment, includes a simulated base drum 12 having a foot pedal 14, a snare drum 16, supported on its own tripod stand, a tom-tom 18 supported on its tripod stand, a pair of simulated tom-toms 20, 22 each mounted on the simulated bass drum 12, and a high-hat cymbal set 24 having a foot pedal 26. The above enumerated components, with some variations, makeup a drum outfit orset as is presently in use by professional and amateur drummers. Variations and/or additions to this drum .set are contemplated. For example, one of the tom-toms (22) may be replaced by a single muted cymbal, Still other variations will occur to those familiar with playing of drums.

In Figs. 2 to 6 inclusive, there is illustrated the details of the simulated bass drum 12 which is the main com ponent of the drum set and serves as a support for the drums 20, 22 and/or an additional cymbal (not shown). The simulated bass drum includes an annular rim or support 30 of Wood or the like which is of a diameter comparable to the diameter of a bass drum. In practice, the diameter may be either'20 or 22 inches, depending on the personal desires of the drummer employing the set. Extending across the rim'30 are a pair of supporting members 32, 34 which form a part of the structure for mounting the rim 30 in a substantially upright position and provide a mount for a practice 'pad assembly 36. The practice pad assembly 36 includes two separate practice pad elements 38, 40, both of whichare mounted on a common base 42 for adjustment lengthwise of the supporting members 32, 34. The purpose of the lengthwise adjustment will appear hereinafter. Lengthwise adjustment is achieved through slots 44, 46 of limited length provided respectively in the supporting members 32, 34, the slots receiving studs 46, 48 extending from the back surface of the base 42. The ends of the studs 46, 48 which project through the slots 44, 46 are threaded and engaged by wing nuts 50 for fixing the practice pad assembly 36 in any desired position of adjustment. The upper practice pad element 38 is of a medium hard piece of rubber covered with calf skin 52 which is glued to the rubber. The construction of the upper practice element is such that it will give off sufficient sound for the drummer to get both an audible effect and feel. The level of the sound may be sufiicient to enable the drummer to tape record a practice session for instructive purposes. The lower practice element 40 is in the form of a body of very soft rubber which gives off virtually no sound, yet affords a feel to the drummer of the rhythm of the arrangement being played.

The supporting members 32, 34 carry a collapsible prop assembly 54 for mounting the rim to extend substantially vertically as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3. The prop assembly includes a rearwardly directed pedestal part 56 which is swingably supported on the members 32, 34 for movement from the full-line, extended position of Fig. 3 through the intermediate broken-line position (also illustrated in Fig. 3) to a collapsed position against the rear surfaces of the supporting members 32, 34. The pedestal 56 includes frame parts 58, 60 which are .joined at their rear ends by a cross head 62. The forward ends of the frame part 58, 60 are pivotally mounted respectively on the supporting members 32, 34 byconventional hinges 64, 66. On the under surface of the cross head 62, there is provided a footing 68 of rubher or other similar shockand sound absorbing material which prevents relative movement of the bass drum on the supporting surface. Extending between the supporting members 32, 34 adjacent their'upper ends is across brace 70 which carries a pivotally supported prop member 72 which may be swung from the full line position of Fig. 3 clockwise'through the dottedline position and eventually into a collapsed position substantially in the plane of the supporting members 32, 34. The prop member 72 is mounted at its upper end for swinging movement by a conventional hinge 74 connected to the cross brace 70'andis provided at its lower end .with a lock member 76 which is engaged by a bolt and wingnut assembly 78, 80 on thecross head 62.

seen best in Figs. 3 and 4, thelowermostend of the locking members 76 is bifurcated and is received about the stud 78 between the stud head 78a and the adjacent inner face of the cross head 62, the locking member 76 being fixed to the cross head 62 by tightening down on the wing nut 80, To release the several elements of the prop assembly 54 from the assembled position illustrated in Fig. 3, it is merely necessary to loosen the Wing nut and to disengage the slotted or bifurcated end of the lock member 76 from about the stud whereupon the parts may be collapsed.

Associated with the assembly 54, are a pair of legs 82, 84 which are pivotally mounted to swing generally .in the plane of the supporting members 32, 34. The legs 82, 84 are pivotally mounted by stud and wing nut assemblies, designated by the reference character 86, 88, which may be tightened to lock the legs in any desired position of adjustment (i. e. the supporting position of Fig. 2) and released to allow the legs 82, 84 to be swung respectively clockwise and counter clockwise to a retracted position lying generally within the outline of the rim 30 of the simulated bass drum 12. On the lowermost ends of the legs 82, 84 are pivotally mounted feet 90, 92, each of which is provided with a shock and sound absorbing footting 94, 96 on its undersurface cooperating with the previously mentioned footing 68 to prevent slippage. The pivotal mounting of the legs 90, 92 aids in stabilizing the bass drum, for example, when to be supported on an uneven surface. In order to more accurately fix the locked position of the legs 82, 84 a detent and catch arrangement is provided respectively on the inner edge of the rim 30 and on the respective legs. The detent may take the form of a serrated plate 98 having plural grooves or locking notches which may be respectively engaged within the catch or tooth 100 carried on the confronting face of the adjacent leg 84. The legs 82, 84 cooperate with the prop assembly 54 to provide a very stable mount for the rim for the bass drum, which mount may be readily collapsed to lie within the outline of the rim of the simulated bass drum.

Along the inner face of the rim 30, adjacent its upper and lower ends, there are provided reinforcing parts 102, 104. The inner surface 104a of the lowermost reinforcing member lies substantially in the plane of the front or contact faces 38a, 40a of the practice elements and serves as a guide in orienting the foot pedal assembly 106 of the bass drum relative to the practice pad elements 38, 40. The foot pedal assembly 106 includes a mounting bracket 108 which is engaged over the adjacent portion of the rim and brought into contact with the reference surface 104a so that the pivotally mounted beater ball 110 of the assembly will contact the adjacent practice pad element after being moved through a prescribed arc in response to actuation of the pedal. The throw of the beater ball 110 is adjusted in the conventional fashion by lengthening or shortening the supporting arm 112 therefor. Further description of the foot pedal assembly 106-is dispensed with since the same is conventional. However, it must be emphasized that the foot pedal 106 maybe mounted on the simulated base drum 12 in the very fashion that it is employed on a conventionalbass drum. When so mounted, the proper relationship between the beater ball 110 and the contact surfaces 38a, 48a lying in the plane normally occupied by the drum head is automatically established. Either of the practice heads 38, 40 may be brought into confronting relation to the beater ball 110 for contact thereby by the adjustment arrangement previously described.

On "the upper peripheral surface of the rim 30 there are provided a pair .of top console brackets 114, 116 each ofwhich is of similar construction. The console bracket 114 includes an inverted U-shaped body having outwardly projecting ears 114a, 1141) which are secured to the rim 30 by nut and bolt arrangements 118, 1120. On the ;bight.seetion 114c of the bracket 114, there is provided a series of holes which may be selectively employed to receive the nut and bolt assembly 122. The brackets 114, 116, which are identical in structure and may be replaced by a single bracket, are employed to mount the respective tom-tom drums 20, 22, on the base drum 12, use being made of specially constructed brackets carried bythe rim portion of the tom-toms and engaged by the nut and bolt assemblies 122 (i.e. bracket 124 on tom-tom 20). The specially-constructed brackets allow the tom-toms to be positioned with either of their surfaces uppermost to attain different effects for practicing, as will be described hereinafter.

Reference will now be made to Figs. 7 and 8 for a detailed description of the structure of the several drum heads 16, 18, 20, 22. Since the structure of each of these drum heads is essentially the same, it will suffice to describe only one in detail. Further the tripod stands for the simulated snare drum and tom-tom 18, 16 are conventional and accordingly will not be described. Turning now specifically to the structure of tom-tom 20, which is considered illustrative of all the drum heads, the same is seen to include a rim 126 of a diameter corresponding to the size of the actual drum which it is intended to simulate and of essentially the same material. Within the rim there is supported a base 128. On the upper surface of the base is a soft rubber pad 130 which is glued to the base. Over the pad 130 is stretched a calf skin 132 which has its marginal portions secured beneath the under surface of the base 128. Glued to the under surface of the base is a soft rubber pad 134. The stretched calf skin 132 over the rubber pad 130 provides a soft sound which is at a level sufficient to be recorded. The soft under surface 134, when struck, produces virtually no discernible sound. Thus, there is available to the drummer either the surface 132 which will give off a slight sound, or the surface 134 which gives off no sound but affords a feel adequate to allow the drummer to practice. The structure of the instant drum is functionally suited for all types of work, including play with brushes. The provision of the rim which is an actual counterpart of the rim of a drum enables the drummer to practice rim shots, that is, drum sequences wherein the drum sticks are heat against the rim of the drum.

In Fig. 9 there are shown the details of the muted high-hat cymbal 24 (illustrated at the left of Fig. l) which is seen to include a pair of cymbal elements 136, 138 having marginally-engaged muting rings 140, 142 about the peripheral portions thereof. The marginallyengaged muting rings 140, 142 are of appropriate elastomer material (i.e. natural or synthetic rubber) and each may be in the form of an anulus which is stretchable to be engaged over the periphery of its cymbal elements, or may be a length of rubber which may be brought into conformity about its cymbal element and secured thereabout by releasably fastening together opposite ends of said length. The marginal guards or mutes 140, 142 maintain the cymbal elements 136, 138 out of direct contact with each other which enables the drummer to obtain the requisite feel and rhythm from the high-hat cymbals without getting an appreciable sound, overtone, or ringing. It will be appreciated that one cymbal (i.e. the element 136) in association with its marginal muting rim or ring 140 may be employed on the drum set in lieu of the tom-tom drum 22. When so positioned, the drummer may hit the cymbal with .but a dull muted sound emanating therefrom.

From the foregoing it will be appreciated that the present invention provides a complete practice set which may be completely or partially muted, the practice set being constructed to attain simulation of the actual drum set which is employed by the professional or amateur drummer. The practice outfit is portable and can be set up in very short order, employing many of the standard parts which the drummer has with his conventional drum set. For example the stands for the simulated snare drums 16, 18 can be the very same stands that the drummer uses for his regular snare drums with the actual drum heads lying within the cradles at the upper ends of the stands. The console brackets on the base drum may be conventional base drum brackets employed to mount tom-toms on the base drum in a regular drum set, and the high hat cymbal is conventional except for the addition of the muting rings 140, 142. In setting up the improved drum set, the drummer may arrange the required number of drums in the array corresponding to his working set of drums, including selecting the heights for the various drums and the angles of the drum faces in relation to each other. Further, the simulated drums may be made of exactly the same diameters-as the actual drums employed by the drummer. The base drum foot pedal may be adjusted to hit the simulated base drum in exactly the same spot as the actual foot pedal hits the working base drum. By the simple expedient of reversing the drum heads of the practice units, 16, 18, 20, 22 it is possible to get different types of sounds for different practicing conditions.

In actual use, all of the various drumming sequences may be practiced, including the use of both brushes and drum sticks. All in all, the simulated drum set is the complete counterpart of the actual working drum set.

A latitude of modification and substitution is intended in the foregoing disclosure and in some instances some features of the invention will be used without a corresponding use of other features. Accordingly the appended claims should be construed broadly as is consistent with the spirit and scope of the present invention.

What I claim is:

1. In a practice drum set, a simulated base drum comprising a cylindrical rim, a diametrically arranged supporting member extending across said rim, a practice pad mounted on said supporting member, and a foot pedal mounted on a lower part of said rim, said foot pedal having a heater ball cooperatively related to said practice pad.

2. In a practice drum set, a simulated base drum comprising a cylindrical rim having a front reference edge, a diametrically arranged supporting member extending across said rim, a practice pad mounted on said supporting member and having its front face located in a prescribed plane parallel to said front reference edge, and a foot pedal mounted on a lower part of said rim, said foot pedal having a beater ball cooperatively related to said practice pad to contact said front face after movement through a prescribed arc.

3. In a practice drum set, a simulated base drum comprising a cylindrical rim, a diametrically arranged supporting member extending substantially vertically of said rim, a practice pad mounted on said supporting member, a foot pedal mounted on a lower part of said rim, said foot pedal having a beater ball cooperatively related to said practice pad, at least one additional drum including a rim and a muted practice pad supported Within said rim, and means mounting said additional drum on said rim of said simulated base drum with said additional drum in a prescribed orientation relative to said simulated base drum.

4. In a practice drum set, a simulated base drum comprising a cylindrical rim, a diametrically arranged supporting member extending substantially vertically of said rim, a practice pad movably mounted on said supporting member for adjustment diametrically of said rim, and a foot pedal mounted on a lower part of said rim, said foot pedal having a heater ball cooperatively related to said practice pad with said practice pad being oriented relative to said beater ball whereby the latter hits said practice pad after movement through a prescribed arc.

5. In a practice drum set, a simulated base drum comprising a cylindrical rim having a front reference edge, a diametrically arranged supporting member extending substantially vertically of said rim, a practice pad mounted on said supporting member and'having its front face located in a'iprescribe'd plane-parallel to and offset rearwardly of :said reference edge, anda foot pedal mounted on a lower part of'said rim, said foot pedal having a beatenball'cooperatively related to said practice pad, said reference edge at said lower part ofsaid rim providing means for orienting said foot pedal relative to said front face of .said practice pad.

,6. In apractice drum set, a simulated base drum comprising acylindrical rim, a diametrically arranged supporting member extending substantially vertically of said rim, apair of :practice pads adjustably mounted on .said supportingmember, rmeans for releasably securing said pair of practice pads in a prescribed position of adjustment, and a foot pedal mounted on a lower part of said rim, said foot pedal having a beater ball cooperatively related to said practice --pads.

'7. In apractice drum set, a simulated base drum comprising -a cylindrical rim, a diametrically-arranged porting mcmberextending substantiallyvertically of said rim, a practice pad mounted on saidsupporting member, a fot pedal mounted ona lower part of said rim,said foot pedal --having a heater ball-1cooperatively related to said practice pad,-and apair of additional drums mounted on the upper part of said rim, each -of said additional drums including a rim and a muted practice -pad.

Pace Nov. 8, 1955 OTHER -REFERENCES Leedy Catalog 44 (page 40), cqpyrighted193 

